Doncaster nurse in bid to make children’s dreams come true

Matt Timms.

A Doncaster children’s nurse is aiming to raise £56,000 in a bid to make dreams come true for 16 seriously ill or disabled Yorkshire youngsters.

Matt Timms, 28, of Hatfield, who is a paediatric diabetes specialist nurse for Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Trust, has nearly raised £5,000 over the last two months and is arranging more fund-raising events to reach his target.

Matt, who is based at Cantley Health Centre, is a volunteer with Dreamflight, and has founded the South Yorkshire Dreamflight Fundraising Group.

Dreamflight is a registered UK charity which takes 192 children to Orlando, Florida, each year, without their parents, where they make new lifelong friends and they have a holiday of a lifetime. A team of medical and non-medical volunteers support the children during the trip.

Matt said: “The holidays gives the young people an opportunity to discover their independence, confidence and to make new friends.”

Matt, a lead nurse for the charity, has previously raised money by climbing Mount Fuji in Japan, taking part in the Great Yorkshire Run and by organising charity music nights.

“From the moment the young people get on the plane, it becomes a party for them and they have a great time,” added Matt.

“It takes a while to board the plane, due to the young people’s disabilities and when we land, there is a fleet of 16 yellow buses waiting to take us to the hotel together with a personal police escort so that we reach our destination quickly. We take the children to places like Disney Land, Sea World and on the last day they are able to swim with the Dolphins at Discovery Cove. We aim to make sure they truly experience the holiday of a lifetime!”

Now the charity is looking for donations and volunteers who can help fundraise across South Yorkshire.

Matt said: “If you come and volunteer with us you are giving the kids an opportunity to experience something they probably never would. You are helping to build their confidence and independence as well. Why not join us in making these ‘dream come true’ holidays happen.”

For more information contact Matt by either emailing mattsyfgdreamflight@gmail.com or by finding the charity on facebook at southyorkshiredreamflight.

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